A transformative work takes something extant and turns it into something with a new purpose, sensibility, or mode of expression. Based on precedent set in the United States Supreme Court, the OTW defines “transformative use” as adding something new, with a further purpose or different character, altering the source with new expression, meaning, or message.

Transformative works include, but are not limited, to fanfiction, real person fiction, fan vids, and fan art. The OTW is interested in all kinds of transformative works, but our priority is to support and defend the types of works hosted in our archive, and the fans who create them.

The term “transformative” was specifically chosen for the nonprofit organization’s name to highlight one of the key legal defenses for fanworks of all kinds (including real person fiction): that they are transformative of original source materials.